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Article Courtesy Featured in the Mirror/msn.com Story by Anthony Thrower 30.08.23
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Villager who filmed himself destroying 4,500-year-old artwork must pay for restoration
A villager who filmed himself damaging an ancient artwork believed to be more than 4,500-years-old has been ordered to pay for its restoration.
The buried monument at Eglwysilan Mountain in Caerphilly, South Wale s, features two large sandstones with "cup marks" cut into their upper surfaces dating back to the Bronze Age. Julian Baker, 52, filmed himself excavating the monument and separating the rock art panel from its stone. Baker, of Abertridwr, appeared at Newport Magistrates’ Court where he admitted deliberately exposing and damaging the Bronze Age monument. believed to date back as far as 2500BC.
Baker was ordered to pay more than £4,000 compensation and given a suspended sentence for disturbing the ancient cairn field and damaging the rock art. The instance is the first ever prosecution in Wales under the section of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Act.
The buried monument at Eglwysilan Mountain in Caerphilly, South Wale s, features two large sandstones with "cup marks" cut into their upper surfaces dating back to the Bronze Age. Julian Baker, 52, filmed himself excavating the monument and separating the rock art panel from its stone. Baker, of Abertridwr, appeared at Newport Magistrates’ Court where he admitted deliberately exposing and damaging the Bronze Age monument. believed to date back as far as 2500BC.
Baker was ordered to pay more than £4,000 compensation and given a suspended sentence for disturbing the ancient cairn field and damaging the rock art. The instance is the first ever prosecution in Wales under the section of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Act.
The Bronze Age monument is believed to date back more than 4,500 years - © WALES NEWS SERVICE
A spokesperson for Welsh Government heritage body Cadw said: "This damage is a serious incident at a rare class of prehistoric monument in Wales. Significant archaeological information has been lost forever, and although some evidence may remain, the significance and value of the part of the monument damaged has been significantly diminished.
"We welcome the court's decision in this case…the custodial sentence and fine imposed reflect the seriousness of this offence. Our scheduled monuments and the archaeological structures, deposits and artefacts they contain are very fragile and vulnerable.
“They are a finite resource that are sensitive to change. Once damaged or destroyed, they and the archaeological data within have been lost forever and cannot be replaced. Heritage crime, particularly reckless damage, is a serious matter which can cause irreparable damage.
"We would like to thank our partners at Gwent Police for their assistance in this case, and we will continue to work closely with them through their Operation Heritage Cymru and Heritage Watch schemes to investigate and pursue offenders to preserve and protect Wales' historic environment for the benefit of this and future generations."
Gwent Police's rural crime team said: "The defendant in this case damaged legally protected pre-historic rock art in Caerphilly, and was given a four month custodial sentence suspended for two years. They were also ordered to pay compensation of £4,400 for restoration.
"The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Act protects the archaeological heritage of Wales, England, and Scotland - making damage to and metal detecting on scheduled monuments a criminal offence. A scheduled monument is an important archaeological site or historic building that is protected against unauthorised change."
"We welcome the court's decision in this case…the custodial sentence and fine imposed reflect the seriousness of this offence. Our scheduled monuments and the archaeological structures, deposits and artefacts they contain are very fragile and vulnerable.
“They are a finite resource that are sensitive to change. Once damaged or destroyed, they and the archaeological data within have been lost forever and cannot be replaced. Heritage crime, particularly reckless damage, is a serious matter which can cause irreparable damage.
"We would like to thank our partners at Gwent Police for their assistance in this case, and we will continue to work closely with them through their Operation Heritage Cymru and Heritage Watch schemes to investigate and pursue offenders to preserve and protect Wales' historic environment for the benefit of this and future generations."
Gwent Police's rural crime team said: "The defendant in this case damaged legally protected pre-historic rock art in Caerphilly, and was given a four month custodial sentence suspended for two years. They were also ordered to pay compensation of £4,400 for restoration.
"The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Act protects the archaeological heritage of Wales, England, and Scotland - making damage to and metal detecting on scheduled monuments a criminal offence. A scheduled monument is an important archaeological site or historic building that is protected against unauthorised change."
